Interested in finding out how essential oils enhance feelings of safety? Cynthia tells us all about reclaiming happiness using your sense of smell.
Cynthia Tamlyn has a resume as long as your arm!
She’s a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider and the founder, owner and principal aromatherapist of OilisticAromatherapy.com. She’s also a professional member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapy.
But Cynthia says that her real passion is supporting survivors of paediatric trauma.
In her work as a first-level paediatric professional, her goal is to help her patients take their power back. She says “[helping survivors] achieve long-term health and happiness” is her goal, and safety is her no. 1 principle.
“I’m a lifelong student, and I integrate the work of neuroscientists, trauma researchers and aromatherapy science to support my clients' emotional wellness and [offer a] sense of safety through customised aromatherapy blends.”
Cynthia says that her first real experience with essential oils was actually the result of her falling into the network marketing hype surrounding them a few years ago. She was desperate to find help for one of her kids, so she purchased an oil kit.
She admits that she then spent thousands of dollars on various essential oils. She also mentions listening to propaganda like “if you have a strong response to a particular scent, then that’s the one you need.” Cynthia says she no longer even uses the term “essential oils”, preferring “volatile aromatic oils” instead.
Cynthia’s turning point was the result of a seizure brought on by a company’s negligent recommendations for using oils. “At that time, I’d been working ... within the holistic healthcare community for almost 20 years. I knew that anything that was potentially helpful also had a great potential for being harmful if used improperly.”
The nearly catastrophic seizure she suffered was due to a lack of instructions, and it’s why she went on to complete her aromatherapy certification.
Cynthia is a dedicated environmentalist. This, and with the fact that she knows how much botanical matter goes into making essential oils, means she uses her oils sparingly and with respect.
She keeps a double-sealed bottle of lavender oil in her fridge for burns and has also created a balm to address her chronic pain issues.
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Cynthia says that essential oils fit in very well with many facets of her life, including:
She doesn’t recommend the consumption of oils and will only allow essential oils to be used in a massage by therapists who are properly trained to use them.
We asked Cynthia whether she had a favourite essential oil and why, to which she replied, “That’s like asking a grandparent to pick their favourite grandchild!”
She did, however, say that she uses “a lot of high ester oils” and Helichrysum italicum, sometimes known as the curry plant. Cynthia says she adores it because of its broad range of benefits and how wonderfully it supports the nervous system.
The most exciting thing happening in the aromatherapy world right now, according to Cynthia, is the community coming together under Rhiannon Lewis’ ICAN and Emily Carpenter’s 2022 AromaSummit.
She says, “I’m also thrilled with the leadership and dedication to science from the Alliance of International Aromatherapists.”
Cynthia has some amazing advice for newcomers to the world of essential oils:
The best way to connect with Cynthia is through her website OilisticAromatherapy.com. “You can send general inquiries through my Contact Me page or complete a new client intake form and I will reach out to you,” she invites us.
In closing, Cynthia states, “I can’t stress enough how important it is that, with essential oils, less is more. That's why it's critically important to work with someone who understands the way essential oils work.”
Cynthia Tamlyn is a strong advocate for safety - for using essential oils to enhance your feelings of safety and for using them in a safe way, too. She understands the power and potential of essential oils and puts them to good use in her private and professional life.
Inspired to do the same? Volant has a superb range of 100% organic essential oils and high quality diffusers that can help you to improve your happiness and well-being.
We sat down with Lorrie to ask her about the possibilities of essential oils. And all we can say is her answers were enlightening.
If you suffer from allergies, sleepless nights, anxiety, or any other afflictions that affect your health and well-being, read on. You may just find exactly what you need.
Like many others, Lorrie’s experience with essential oils began in a health food store. She saw an essential oil book placed next to an assortment of oils. She says, ‘I opened it up and it said, “Use 10 drops of lavender in the bath to relax and calm.” It also talked about clary sage, geranium and orange.’ Curious, Lorrie purchased all four oils.
For the next month, she put 10 drops of lavender in the bath for each family member before bed. After one month of using lavender in the bath, her son, who had always stuttered, stopped stuttering.
Lorrie recalls thinking, Wow, if this can do that for my son, what else can it do for my clients coming to me for iridology, herbs, vitamins and flower essence therapy? This experience was the icing on the cake for all her future programmes.
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Although it was a painful experience that led to Jade discovering the power of essential oils, the discovery changed her life for the better.
While suffering from severe back pain that left her unable to walk in the 1990s, Jade’s friend referred her to an aromatherapist. “The British approach to aromatherapy was and is through the application of essential oils (in a carrier oil) via massage. My first aromatherapy session was life transforming! First off, I fell in love with the aroma of the blend she customised for me. At some point during the massage, I fell fast asleep, and upon waking, the first thought I had was, THIS is what I want to do for the rest of my life! I wanted to give others this transformative experience.”
And she has! Jade studied at the Raworth Institute in the UK, and from there, she went on to open one of the first aromatherapy schools in North America.
Thirty-two years later, she’s still enthralled and fascinated by the power of essential oils and aromatherapy.
Like so many aromatherapists, Jade uses aromatherapy products whenever and wherever she can. “I love making aromatherapy products for myself and my family for skin care, muscular aches, pains, or emotional ups and downs. I love diffusing essential oils into our home to support health and emotional well-being. I also make my own aromatic medicine.”
Using essential oils in a massage is also a favourite of hers as it’s so supportive of physical and emotional well-being. She also likes integrating essential oils in an aromatic spritzer at the end of yoga practice or to diffuse during meditation.
She says that “essential oils can fit into just about any practice in one way or another, given their wide range of therapeutic benefits.”
According to Jade, it’s a tough ask to choose just one essential oil, but at the end of the day, neroli comes out on top.
She adds that “neroli has a way of evoking a sense of calm like no other essential oil. Sweet, floral, subtle yet powerful, neroli reduces feelings of stress or overwhelm while comforting the heart, especially during these times of change.”
With such a wealth of knowledge, Jade certainly has some words of wisdom for anyone new to essential oils.
She added that there is an abundance of great books on the topic and recommends The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils by Kurt Schnaubelt and The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.
Interested in learning more about Jade and how you can overcome acute and complex trauma with aromatherapy? You can find her on Instagram under the handle @aromaticstudies and at the School for Aromatic Studies.
Jade firmly believes that as we emerge from the pandemic era, essential oils are going to play an even more profound role in our well-being. “Simply diffusing essential oils or taking a few moments to smell an essential oil or combination of essential oils can be incredibly beneficial in reducing stress, anxiety, or feelings of being overwhelmed.”
As Jade explains, “essential oils are capable of building resiliency in this ever-changing world.” This resilience is what helps us cope with trauma and recover from it.
If you’re looking for ways to boost your resilience, Volant has everything you need. Our high quality diffusers and 100% pure and organic essential oils are the perfect way to start your own transformative journey towards improved well-being.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards better well-being, find out what she has to say below.
As a Holistic Health Practitioner who focuses on fitness, nutrition and spiritual wellness and an Usui and Karuna Reiki Master and Certified Aromatherapist, Alicia Rae is really an all-rounder.
In her own words, she explains how she combines all her knowledge into her practice:
“In my practice, a thorough health and personal history coupled with a full goal-setting session are indispensable for setting the tone for our work together. Essential oils are a part of almost every client’s protocol because they address every aspect of wellness, from pain relief and wound healing to processing grief and managing the world we live in.”
Alicia’s passion for aromatics has a very sweet story behind it. She fell in love with aromatics when she was very young, and it’s a love she shared with her father. She says that they both felt that smells were a wonderful way to explore the world together.
Later on, with a degree in Holistic Health, one of Alicia’s electives was aromatherapy. “I was intrigued by the concept that essential oils, something wonderfully smelly, also had real health benefits!”.
She says that she truly loved studying aromatherapy and went on to further her education after she graduated.
Alicia uses essential oils daily and has formulated her own systems to create skincare and pain relief products. She utilises these herself to help with aches and pains from old injuries and to deal with allergies and asthma. Alicia also creates massage oils to ease muscle aches, deal with weariness and foster mental recuperation.
Essential oils set the mood in her home and Alicia reports that she runs her diffuser for at least one hour every day. She also uses oils to create laundry soap and cleaning products for her home.
Being able to deep clean her house without aggravating her lungs is a blessing, says Alicia. She also employs essential oils in her private magic practice.
Her care extends to her pets too! Everyone gets a weekly wash and an oil rubdown, which they love. Alicia additionally works with essential oils to keep her garden in top shape and her closets free of moths.
“Essential oils make every occasion just a little more wonderful,” says Alicia, and the list of ways she incorporates them is long:
Alicia’s go-to oils change with the seasons, but she admits that rose geranium, Pelargonium graveolens, is one of her all-time favourites. She says it’s wonderful for skin and an excellent choice for women seeking more balance. Its ability to foster creativity and mental clarity while brightening and clarifying the skin makes it Alicia’s first choice.
We asked Alicia what she’s particularly excited about in the aromatherapy sector right now. She answered that being able to access scientific methods to measure essential oils’ efficacy and find out exactly why they work is thrilling. She ended by saying, “What can I say? I’m a nerd for facts.”
We’re keen on reducing the possibilities of mistakes being made with essential oils, so we asked Alicia what newbies should watch out for. She responded by saying that, with the proper precautions, the use of a high-quality carrier oil and reliable reference material, not too much can go wrong.
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We asked Alicia for some advice around using essential oils and she gave us a few words of wisdom: “Research the companies making your oil. Make sure they protect endangered species of plants and are not adulterating your oils or synthesising them with petroleum-based chemicals.”
She added that new users should “take some classes that come from certified practitioners or accredited schools.”
She also recommends that everyone spend time with each oil they acquire. Learn about the oil’s smell and colour and identify how you physically respond to its aroma.
Alicia Rae’s insight into the healing properties of essential oils is eye opening. Her wonderful knowledge and respect for nature are evident in everything she shared with us, and she’s a major inspiration for anyone who wants to begin their own journey with essential oils.
If you’re keen to set off on this well-travelled path to wellness, Volant has everything you need. From high quality essential oils to stunning diffusers, we’ll ensure that you embark on your new adventure with all the right tools.
Ready to discover the diverse power of scent? Suzanne unlocks some of the mysteries of aromatherapy below.
Based in Australia, Suzanne has been an aromatherapist for almost 30 years. She’s written an aromatherapy book, Revelation! Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils, and has spent her life devoted to bodywork, energetic healing and massage.
With perfumes correlating with her book, she says that, as challenging as writing and creating perfumes was the first time around, she’s at it again. She’s currently reformulating her perfumes and has begun a brand-new project.
Suzanne’s introduction to essential oils took place in the early 1990s. Remembering the experience, Suzanne says, “I bought a bottle of bergamot, and that little bottle of oil hooked me into a way of life.” She immediately started a Diploma of Aromatherapy in Sydney.
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Suzanne has a vaporiser at home and says she simply grabs bottles of oils from her cupboard and leaves them where it’s easy to find them. “I change the combination about once a week,” she says. She also makes body oil blends in 50 ml bottles, which she uses on her face too, as well as aromatherapy creams.
“Essentials are never far from my reach,” says Suzanne. “I always have a roll-on perfume in my bag and love using it in my hair as well as my skin.”
Suzanne says she’s lucky that her massage therapist is also an aromatherapist because this means her treatments involve special blends created just for her. She also highly recommends using essential oils as part of a meditation practice, as long as the scent is not too strong, and loves adding oils to magnesium salt baths.
We asked Suzanne if she had any favourite essential oils, and she said choosing just one is difficult because there are so many amazing options!
She did admit to having a soft spot for neroli and petitgrain, however, explaining that it reminded her of her grandmother. “Bittersweet citrus oils appeal to me.”
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When pressed for advice, Suzanne said that the biggest problem in aromatherapy today is the amount of misinformation online. She’s horrified by how many people are ingesting essential oils and says the only way to root out this kind of false information is to learn about aromatherapy every way you can.
Suzanne also particularly urges everyone who uses, or wants to use, essential oils to make sure they know the difference between fragrant oils and essential oils. Fragrant oils are cheap and synthetic, and educating yourself about quality is key.
When we asked Suzanne what advice she had for people just beginning their aromatherapy journey, she advises:
She added that no one should ever skip the testing process, especially in the heat of excitement about creating a one-of-a-kind gift for a loved one.
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Suzanne is delighted about the increase in aromatherapy conferences because it proves that practitioners are engaging with one another. She says that conventions like Aromatica, Botanica and those held by the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy are a wonderful showcase.
Suzanne feels that essential oils are a gift from nature that can go a long way towards reconnecting with the world around us. They can also form a bridge between our minds and souls and are thus potentially very powerful tools of transformation.
“These wonderful aromatic extracts can also help us improve our intuition and, in turn, facilitate the evolution of humanity,” she says. “Allow the power of scent to show you the way.”
It’s safe to say that essential oils mean a lot to Suzanne Banks. Her ever-growing range of perfumes and her skill in harnessing the benefits of nature are evident in everything she does, and she’s passionate about introducing the world to the power of essential oils.
If Suzanne has inspired you to give essential oils a try, be sure to explore Volant’s range of 100% organic, all-natural products. You can start with the oils Suzanne suggests and go from there. Who knows? In time, you may even end up creating your own perfumes!
It’s been said that the first rule of show business is to get off the stage while people still want more. Luckily for the world of aromatherapy, Jo Kellett followed this advice and left the entertainment industry to start exploring essential oils.
Jo has been a practicing aromatherapist since 1996. She has appeared on TV, is a published author and esteemed lecturer, and runs popular female-focused well-being workshops around the world. Women's health issues are one of her core focuses and a major passion.
As the current Tisserand Aromatherapy Expert, we asked Jo to tell us more about how essential oils have shaped her life. Here’s what she had to say.
My name’s Jo Kellett and I live and work in Brighton on the south coast of England, from where I run my business, From the Seed Aromatherapy. I’ve always had a fascination with how things smell - I was very drawn, as well as repelled, by certain smells when I was small. I had no idea that there was an interesting and fulfilling career ahead of me!
I trained to be an aromatherapist after a career change in my mid-twenties, at the Tisserand Institute of Holistic Aromatherapy. I went on to run a successful private practice and was asked back to the Institute to be one of their Essential Oil Therapeutics Tutors.
I’ve continued teaching alongside my practice and now teach at the postgraduate level (CPD). My area of passion is women’s health, but I’m an inclusive practitioner and I’m happy to treat anyone! I also work for an essential oil company creating their prepared blends.
Before I was an aromatherapist, I was a stage manager in London’s busy West End. One spring I came down with a very nasty, flu-like bug. It was almost impossible to take time off as you were expected to work - “the show must go on”!
The wig mistress on this particular show used essential oils in her daily life and could see how badly I was suffering, so she introduced me to eucalyptus and thyme to help reduce my congestion. They were so good! At the same time, my flatmate was also using essential oils in a candlelit burner. I had had enough of the theater lifestyle and knew I wanted a change.
Being an aromatherapist seemed like a wonderful career choice! I’ve now been an aromatherapist for over 26 years. I really do love my job!
I’m surrounded by essential oils; I use them most days for clients and around the house for myself and my family. I also work closely with a well-known brand to create their pre-blended products. So, essential oils are never very far away from most things I do!
As a practicing aromatherapist, I’m going to say massage! For me, that’s the most pleasing way to use essential oils. As you have the power of touch along with the power of smell, it’s a potent combination!
However, I also love using essential oils in a diffuser; it’s such an easy, yet effective way to use essential oils. Choose your blend, place the drops in the diffuser and just get on with what you need to do!
You can have the diffuser going on your desk while you’re working, in the hallway as you go about your day, and in your bedroom before sleep to encourage you to wind down. You can use your diffuser if you or someone in your family is coming down with a cold, and you can even choose a blend to motivate or calm you. The options are unlimited!
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I do get asked this a lot. I often feel the need for different aromas depending on what or how I want to feel, but there is one essential oil I come back to time and time again, and that is neroli (Citrus aurantium). It’s steam distilled from the blossoms of the orange tree and, in my opinion, is one of the most sublime aromas out there!
It has a sweet, floral, creamy aroma with strong citrus notes. Just one tiny sniff and I feel happy. It’s used in aromatherapy as a de-stress oil and is also a wonderful skin tonic. I love to combine it in a blend with Sweet Orange, which is from the fruit, and Petitgrain, which is from the leaves of the orange tree. It’s such a wonderful, uplifting combination.
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I love that people are becoming more engaged and taking responsibility for their general health and well-being. We all know we need to take more time for ourselves and prioritize our health. Essential oils, if used safely, can be such a wonderful way to do just that.
So many people are looking for ways to use essential oils in their daily life, whether that’s to make their own skincare products, use in a diffuser or add as a blend to their bath. I am a huge advocate of anyone and everyone using aromatherapy in their daily life, but this means that we need the correct information out there on how to use them safely and effectively.
Essential oils are effective, but they must be respected. Each bottle is a concentrated essence of a particular plant. Always follow guidelines and don’t think more drops will work better.
Don’t use them neat on the skin or drink them; there’s a lot of misinformation on the internet, and this is a good example of that!
Keep them cool and away from direct sunlight and use them within the manufacturer's recommended best-by date.
There are hundreds of essential oils out there, so start with maybe five or six.
Think about what you would like to achieve with your essential oils. Are you interested in alleviating anxiety or do you need help with your sleep pattern? Would you like to use them to help you feel motivated or relaxed?
Take the time to read about the main properties of each oil, what they do, and go from there. You can always build on your collection.
I love sharing tips and ideas on how to use essential oils on my website or on Instagram. Head on over to my site to check out my blogs and follow me on Instagram, that way you can keep up with what I’m up to!
It’s great that so many people are using essential oils in their day-to-day life, but I would also encourage you to seek out a professional for treatment. A properly trained aromatherapist will give you a full consultation to assess your needs and tailor the perfect blend just for you. This is a truly wonderful way to experience the power of essential oils!
I really enjoy sharing my experience with professionals and enthusiasts alike, so I’m planning on running a new online Introduction to Aromatherapy course next year. Watch this space!
Jo Kellett loves what she does, and her transition into aromatherapy has been hugely fulfilling. She’s passionate about sharing her knowledge and using it to enrich other people’s lives. Her expertise has also made her a respected voice on the power of aromatherapy for women's health and well-being.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning more about what she does and that you take her advice about incorporating essential oils into your life in a way that serves you best. Don’t forget to include those all-important aromatherapy massages either!
Read on to discover how Dr Pénoël’s exploration of essential oils has been instrumental in his drive to change the way the world views medicine.
Dr Daniel Pénoël has practised medicine for half a century. The combination of natural medicine and essential oils have had a huge impact on the way he works and thinks.
“My first attraction to the world of essential oils was when I was 19 years old and studying naturopathy,” says the doctor. “I was fascinated by essential oils’ unique power and their natural ability to help the body with its healing tasks.
At the beginning of the 1980s, I started using essential oils during patient consults for acute or chronic conditions and the results were astonishing.”
In the world of aromatherapy, Dr Pénoël mentions three typical schools of thought. The first is the British, which teaches the dilution of essential oils, often through massage for relaxation. Next is German, which relies on the aroma of the oils rather than direct application. And thirdly, there is the French way, which treats essential oils as a valid form of medicine, often used internally.*
French doctors trained in aromatic medicine will often prescribe essential oils over antibiotics. Dr Pénoël references many cases where essential oils can be more effective than antibiotics.
Dr Pénoël shed some light on his strategy for fighting an infection using essential oils. He begins by administering "stronger" oils that are in higher concentration. These stronger oils with higher levels of phenols are very aggressive against both viral and bacterial infections. However, because of the potential irritation that phenols can pose to the gut, after a week's use, Dr. Pénoël then "ramps down" the strong oils and increases the proportion of other less-irritating oils.
Dr. Pènoël’s advice for anyone interested in creating an Essential Oil Emergency Kit should first of all include peppermint oil. Why? The primary problem we find in emergencies is pain. We need to find a compound that has the ability to minimise pain. Menthol, contained in peppermint essential oil, can do that. Use just a few drops, and the pain will go away almost immediately. This is because peppermint has a cooling action, so it blocks the pain transmitters. “How quickly it works is a great example of the holistic power of aromatherapy! It provides instant results in many situations...” So add peppermint oil to your emergency kit, and don’t forget to add the second most important oil: a carrier oil.
Dr Pénoël has dedicated his life to the study of essential oils and their positive effects. His willingness to share what he’s learned is exciting for everyone interested in this field.
While Dr Pénoël often advises his patients to take essential oils internally, against the advice of English aromatherapy, his hopes for the future are high. He hopes that the more casual English approach to using essential oils and the more formal, medical one in France will merge. He feels that this is the best way for us to uncover the real potential of aromatic plants and their oils.
The good doctor had some words of wisdom to share:
You can explore Dr Pénoël’s work at OSMOBIOSE, where you’ll find resources regarding e-training and masterclasses along with teaching materials in English and French. He adds, “Some resources are free, like the one on Functional Group Theory and Essential Oils, which I think anyone involved in essential oils should read.”
Dr Pénoël’s daughter also runs a YouTube channel which features podcasts by her father.
If Dr Pénoël has inspired you to give essential oils a try, take a look at the variety of high-quality diffusers and 100% organic essential oils available at Volant to get started. With a quality guarantee, it’s the perfect place for anyone interested in alternative health practices.
*Disclaimer: Please note that Volant does not endorse the internal use of essential oils unless prescribed by a medical doctor.
When I was young, I really loved drawing - flowers, princesses, fashion sketches, animals, landscapes... I was always drawing. In fact, I drew so much that my mom had to stop buying sketch books and start collecting scrap paper to give me. She had to find old calendars, flyers, wrapping paper – anything! I think she still keeps some of my old drawings now.
Drawing quickly became my passion, and this followed me through life. After working for several years in a Japanese company, I decided to follow a new career in the art world. And naturally, I became an illustrator!
I paint in acrylics. I love to mix different brush strokes and create emotion through my artwork. I paint on 200-300g paper and then scan my work to retouch the colours digitally. I paint for myself, as well as for clients across the globe including magazines, marketing campaigns and products. I also publish children’s books.
It’s difficult to choose my favourite painting because there are so many! As my style and inspiration have evolved slowly over time, my favourites are constantly changing. At the moment, one of my favourite paintings is of the Californian landscape in the film Marriage Story. I found the landscape so epic and beautiful, I couldn’t help but recreate it.
Another favourite is a portrait I created of my friend when we spent some time together at a holiday home in the south of France. I added my own touch to it though; the house was quite different to how I’ve painted it, with very simple décor, and my friend was wearing a beautiful floral dress, so I couldn’t help but add some floral motifs around her!
The thing I miss most about living in Japan is the food! I often bring some Japanese seasoning and tea back to France with me when I have the opportunity to go back to Japan. I live in Paris, so luckily it is easy to find Asian food to cook, but some ingredients are more expensive or difficult to find here. Sometimes my mom sends me a package of Japanese food too.
I love French gastronomy and I really appreciate that I can live in this country, but at home, I want to make a good Miso soup, or vegetable with dashi. This is how I keep my body healthy, helping me to feel my best.
Everything that I use to create my art, I bought here in France. It was here in Paris that I studied Art, so materials that I can find in France are familiar to me. However, I do believe that the skill of Japanese calligraphy makes my art more elegant.
Last winter, I joined two creative agencies. This brought me many different interesting opportunities to make visuals for different types of clients. I'm so happy with the results and I think it became a great milestone in my career.
I'm also happy with the result of my latest children's book: Forêt des frères. Originally, I published the book in French in 2020, and then it was bought by publishing houses to be published in Japanese, Spanish, and other languages. It warms my heart that children across the globe are able to read my book in their language! It was definitely a proud moment, and one that I’ll never forget.
Thank you! I think of my home interior as a simple and refined design. This is mainly a mix of Scandinavian vintage combined with modern design. I also love to have lots of textures in my home, such as ceramics. I’d love to create a large piece of art for an empty wall, but with my illustration work, I’m struggling to find the time!
It was my mom that first told me about essential oils. I can’t remember how old I was when I was first introduced to essential oils, but I regularly saw my mom use them. She would use her essential oils in the bath, in her bedroom before sleeping, and when she wanted to relax and to clear her mind.
What I do remember is that I loved the aroma of her essential oils and couldn’t wait to begin using them myself.
My favourite way to use essential oils is for relaxing. I love to mix essential oils in my bath or diffuse them in the bedroom or the living room in the evening. Essential oils are also great for fuelling my creativity, which is perfect for those times when my mind goes blank.
I also love to use essential oils for cleaning. Tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils are great for this, disinfecting the home whilst refreshing the air. I find that the best way to keep a room smelling great is to put a small amount of essential oil on a little piece of fabric and place it inside a chest of drawers. The scent slowly disperses around the room, leaving it smelling great.
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I live close to nature between a forest and a lake. The nature and harmony that surrounds me is reflected in my home. I also express my African roots in my home. You can find and recognise me in my home.
The first thing I "feel" when I first enter another person's home is the atmosphere. How are the people in the home, what am I noticing, how does it smell, what colours and furniture are used, is it tidy or chaotic? A person's home truly reflect a person.
Aromatherapy has been a companion in my everyday life for many years. Who does not remember the scent of a beautiful flowering rose? This smell can easily be recalled!
My morning starts with one scent and the evening ends with another. My evening scents are light and relaxing for the bedroom, mostly lavender or frankincense. In the morning it can be fresh and awakening such as lemon, orange, or my favourite essential oil blend "Breathe" from Volant. In winter, a hot bath with a few drops of eucalyptus or geranium is pure soul comfort.
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The positive effect I notice in addition to well-being is that there is a wonderful scent in the room, which is very natural and unobtrusive. I like to be able to spray a different scent every day according to my mood.
Breathe, Lavender, Frankincense, Sleep and Geranium.
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Sharon has already made a huge impact in the aromatherapy world, and she continues to educate a broad range of people on the topic. In the wake of the pandemic, she’s changed the industry for the better and is spreading awareness of the benefits of aromatherapy to people who perhaps wouldn't have discovered them otherwise.
My first experience with essential oils was through a massage in the UK, shortly after my first husband died 18 years ago. I was immediately captivated by these small bottles of healing aromas and wanted to learn more. That was when I enrolled in the Penny Price Academy of Aromatherapy.
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I use essential oils in my business day-to-day, formulating blends for clients on a custom basis. I also use essential oils personally in my skincare routine and for minor issues like stomachache, bug bites, itchy skin and pain. I suffer from fibromyalgia and find that essential oil blends can help to manage pain and skin issues associated with that.
I like to combine essential oils with herbal medicine where appropriate as I believe that the two modalities can complement each other. I also like to use essential oils in bath salts for a relaxing bath.
My favorite essential oil varies depending on my mood and the time of year! However, neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara (flos)) has always been a standby favorite for me. It has helped in times of shock and grief (I’ve used a bottle of it to inhale at a funeral) as it’s an uplifting aroma that can lift your spirits when you are feeling down. That intoxicating, floral-orangey aroma is almost a complex perfume in itself! However, I have found that the source of the neroli essential oil is important to retain that top-shelf quality and can affect how I feel about it.
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Another important thing to note is that orange blossom is not the same as neroli. There are various extractions of this versatile flower, not forgetting that essential oil is extracted from the fruit and leaves of the orange tree as well. I think that this is why I love neroli so much as it has a whole “family” of oils standing behind it!
Neroli is also my go-to oil to inhale before presenting a class or talk, to calm my nerves and to give me confidence.
Since the pandemic, we have seen a rise in the number of people wanting to use aromatherapy and wanting to learn more about it, which is always a good thing! When I first moved to the United States from the UK, I often got puzzled looks when I said that I was an aromatherapist! Now the reaction is different, and most people know about aromatherapy, although educating people on what aromatherapy is (pure essential oils) and what it isn’t (for example, fragrance oils bought at Walmart) is still a challenge. Along with that is the recognition via medical professionals that aromatherapy is becoming a “valid” therapy. We still have a long way to go for it to be accepted across the board, but I think that aromatherapy’s future looks bright.
I think that I touched on this above when I mentioned understanding what aromatherapy is and what it isn’t. But to expand on that, it’s also understanding how to use essential oils safely (paramount to successful use for all). Really get to know the plant from which the essential oil was extracted as well. If you don’t fully understand what you are using, it’s difficult to use it safely and correctly. And each essential oil is different, so take your time and enjoy the learning process – we are all still learning as more is learned each day about these oils!
I think that I probably answered this question above but to add to that, get yourself a good teacher - not just one, but several. You can learn something new from each person about essential oils, and it will only expand your knowledge. However, don’t think that you can learn it all at once. Studying essential oils is a lifelong journey – but that’s what makes it so fascinating!
I have to add that I started a garden around 2016, and growing the herbs that I use in aromatherapy as essential oils is healing on many levels. I also have a still, and the hands-on process for creating essential oils is worth so much more than anything you can read about it.
You can find me on my website, on Instagram and on Facebook. You can also contact me via email at sharon@sedonaaromatics.com
I also encourage people to sign up for our newsletter, as the best way to connect with our audience is through our monthly newsletters.
Thank you for allowing me to share this information with your readers! For anyone just starting out in aromatherapy, I highly recommend my book Authentic Aromatherapy, 2nd Edition (2016, New York: Skyhorse Publishing) as it covers all of the basics on what aromatherapy is and how to get started safely!
A UK-certified aromatherapist, author and NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy) executive board member, Sharon Falsetto Chapman has worked within the healthcare industry since the 1990s.
She’s also the founder of Sedona Aromatics: The Garden School OnlineTM and has a wealth of knowledge she’s more than happy to share with the world. Chapman strives to enrich communities and teach them about the benefits and practices of aromatherapy, even in the most challenging times.
If she’s inspired you to start your own journey with essential oils, now is the perfect time. Volant’s high quality diffusers and 100% all natural organic essential oils are an incredible introduction to what may become a lifelong passion for you too.
Like so many of us, Amy’s journey began with buying a bottle of essential oil and wanting to learn more. As hard as it is to believe,
Amy was once in marketing research! She left the field because of how much she loved plants and she’s never looked back.
Amy is now a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist who works in multiple sectors. She's an aromatherapy consultant, educator and practitioner. She’s also an artisanal distiller, certified master composter, gardener, herbalist and host of the podcast Essential Aromatica.
Amy is largely guided by intuition, informed by her many years of education and practice, and she harvests many of the plants she needs from her own garden. “Aromatics are woven into my daily life in many ways,” says Amy, “both obvious and nuanced.”
Amy doesn’t believe that aromatherapy is a lifestyle. She feels that essential oils are to be respected and used mindfully, with care. She says intention is everything and that it’s important to identify underlying issues before choosing which oils to work with and how to use them.
She’s a proponent of combining essential oils with massage, meditation and yoga. She believes that “aromatherapy is beneficial on an as-needed basis, but also on a protocol if you’re working with a specific issue or situation, like a respiratory infection, sleep issues or anxiety.”
Amy says the question to ask is: What plant do we need to turn to at a particular point in time to address a certain need? “We’re changing all of the time,” she muses, “just as the rest of the Earth is.”
Based in the United States, Amy thinks the fact that aromatherapy is unregulated is both a blessing and a curse.
She says it’s wonderful how easily you can get your hands on any oil, but the danger that they will be misused and/or misrepresented is not. She says it’s up to us to ensure we know how to judge authenticity, quality and representation. Luckily, there is some trustworthy information available and it’s up to us to engage with it.
When we enquired as to what Amy feels users should aim for and what they should avoid, she exclaimed, “Oh my! This is a hot topic!” Her thoughtful advice can be summed up as:
As wonderful an aid as aromatherapy is, it’s not a cure-all. Educate yourself about each oil’s benefits and its limitations, and use it accordingly.
“Please remember how concentrated and powerful these oils are! Less is more! Inhalation, one drop per application, is enough to shift mood and mind states!”
This was Amy’s reply to our enquiry about any hints she had for using essential oils.
She recommends a drop or two of oil on a cotton pad for inhalation, especially if you’re struggling to sleep. She also urges users to be curious and seek out experts like herself and organisations like the AIA, the IFPA and NAHA.
“Aromatherapy - essential oils - are a way to connect,” says Amy. “Working with the oils, especially through inhalation to impact our nervous systems and … emotions, mood states and entire being, is a gift from nature,” she continues. She’s created a class and a podcast episode about this connection called Connection, Nature and Aromatherapy that she hopes people will find beneficial.
Find Amy at nycaromatica.com and on Instagram. “I continue putting up offerings on my website, including Plant Talk, articles and videos where I totally geek out on plants!” she says. “There are several free and pay-what-you-wish video-based classes on topics like Diffusing Essential Oils and Exploring the Lavenders as well as on more advanced topics like Chakras and Essential Oils and Detoxing the Brain.”
Amy Anthony’s passion for everything related to essential oils and learning how to use them to improve our lives is obvious!
If this has inspired you to start finding out more about aromatherapy and what it can do for you, Volant is the perfect place to start. With a wide range of handcrafted, carefully curated diffusers and essential oils, your journey into the world of aromatherapy has just begun.
Ready to feel better physically and mentally?
Jen’s here to tell you how to do just that – and how essential oils can help.
When she was in high school, Jen’s father dated a herbalist. She was given an essential oil kit and a nebulising diffuser, which kicked off her aromatherapy journey.
As an undergraduate, Jen took a course called Human Health Possibilities which required her to read The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. “I remember feeling overwhelmed by the number of essential oils and remedies,” Jen recalls. “During that time in my life, I mainly used lavender and citrus essential oils for scenting a room and to help on an emotional level.”
Despite this very positive initial exposure to the benefits of essential oils, she didn’t get serious about aromatherapy until later on.
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When Jen started battling chronic health issues, she began investigating complementary and integrative medicine to help her heal. Talking about this time, she says, “When I started using essential oils more frequently again, it felt like coming home to something familiar and comfortable.” During this period she encountered essential oils in a professional setting. It was then that she began incorporating them into her job as a clinical social worker, and this led to her studying aromatherapy.
Jen says that her primary reason for using essential oils is to manage pain but adds that they offer excellent support for her emotional and respiratory systems too.
“My favourite options are a diffuser, AromaStick or nasal inhaler, roll-on, massage oil, whipped butter or just dropping essential oils onto a cotton ball.”
She also likes pairing simple, basic, daily activities like praying, reading, studying, writing and even watching TV with essential oils.
Along with benefitting from their aroma while she’s cleaning, driving, hiking, working or trying to fall asleep, Jen also uses essential oils when she’s travelling. “I bring a little kit with me with all the essential oils ... and carrier oils that I may need.”
According to Jen, while she has favourite essential oils, these really depend on what kind of day she’s having and a particular situation.
She’s quick to add, however, that she “really enjoys citrus oils, especially for emotional and mood support. I would say that my two favourite ... oils are probably bergamot and grapefruit.”
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Jen loves the saying, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” She also feels that some of the biggest learning opportunities in the field are concerned with global sustainability, proper education and realistic expectations. We picked her brain for some tips for using essential oils:
She added that another saying she lives by is from Bob Ross: “We don't make mistakes, just happy accidents.”
We were keen to find out what insights Jen has for new users, and we weren’t disappointed by what we got!
Jen also urges all users to not take the whole experience too seriously. She emphasised that you should always be having fun!
It’s obvious that Jen Shepherd’s life is informed by aromatherapy and the enormous good it can do in the right hands. It’s the way she creates a stable emotional standpoint for herself and how she helps the people around her.
If you feel ready to start incorporating essential oils into your everyday life, Volant has everything you’ll need.